Category Archives: Health

I recently posted a new blog to Huffington Post (which can be found here) about what I want individuals to know when they walk in the door to their first day of counseling. Each thought is something that I’ve wished, at one point or another, that my new clients could know before walking in the door. They are things that I think could make counseling – and me as a counselor! – less intimidating. It’s written with my therapist hat on, rather than my food-allergy hat. Sometimes starting from scratch means cooking, and sometimes starting from scratch means allowing someone else in to help – which is what I hope to do in my work as a mental health counselor.

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Allergic Living recently did a piece on adult-onset food allergies with a couple of quotes from me about living with food allergies. The article provides some helpful statistics and a great overview of some of the challenges adults face with the onset of food allergies! It both validates the experience of adult-onset food allergies and provides a positive framework to consider them. To quote the article, “Despite past bad reactions and numerous social challenges, not one of those interviewed with adult-onset allergies finds the condition is unmanageable.”

As we approach the New Year, I think about resolutions for myself and I think about my hopes for the clients I see as a counselor. When you have had to start from scratch in your life, where did you find your strengths? How have those become resolutions that you take forwards with you into new years and new experiences?

Starting from scratch for me has been about food and cooking, but it’s also been about so much more. In developing food allergies I learned how to communicate better with family and friends, how to engage in a faith community, where to find silver linings, how to manage food-related anxiety, and how to use my personal strengths to grow. And more recently, how to challenge myself (I’ve been getting much better at figuring out restaurants that may be safe! – but more on that in a separate post).

In my latest Huffington Post blog, I’ve written an open letter to my clients wishing them self-compassion, connection, insight, and growth as they head towards the new year. These are things that I think we all could use as we head into 2016, myself included.

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This blog is my own writing and the thoughts, opinions and advice are my own and do not express the views of my employers or anyone else.

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The views of this blog are not meant to constitute medical advice, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy. If you have concerns, please contact your personal therapist or your physician. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health crisis, please call 911.